Pen-box ink-feed



Dec. 8, 1931.

c. F. JENKINS PEN BOX INK FEED Filed Dec. 6, 1927 WIT/vex:

Patented Dec. 8, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES FRANCISJENKINS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO JENKINSLABORATORIES, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A CORPORA- TION OFTHE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PEN-BOX INK-FEED Application filed December 6,1927. Serial No. 238,186.

This invention relates to apparatus for recording pen-and-ink-on-paperweather maps by radio, and has for its principal object means forapplying ink to the pen-point in exactly the right amount with littleloss from evaporation, and a certainty that the ink will mark the paperafter considerable intervals of inaction.

With this and other objects in View, the invention consists of the novelcombination of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in thedrawings, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

1 In the drawings Figure 1 is a side view of the pen box, and a sectionof the paper-carrying cylinder; Figure 2 a front view with the cylinderomitted; Figure 3 and Figure 4 top and side views of the pen. Thedrawings are in heroic size, i. e., very much larger than normal, forclarity.

In the drawings A represents a rotating cylinder upon which therecording paper or the base map is mounted to be moved heneath thepen-point B. The shank of the pen is gripped in the pen-arm C. The boxI) contains means for moving the pen-arm toward and away from thesurface of the drum A. The box D also supports an inkwell E. Ink iscarried from the ink-well to the pen-point by a porous string or threadF, which passes over the rim of the ink-well, through the shank of thepen, and down between the blades of the pen-point, to a position soclose to the point that the capillary space therebetween keeps aconstant ink supply at the pen-point. G is a screw for adjusting theseparation of the pen blades to determine the fineness of the ink lineof the received weather map.

As is well known, radio energy is almost infinitely small at longdistances, say, 2500 to 5000 miles from the broadcast station, and it isessential, therefore, that the structure of mechanism to be movedthereby shall be built to conserve in every possible way the energy ofthe incoming radio signal. This is the prime object of this invention.It can well be appreciated, therefore, that the inkwell cannot becarried by the pen-arm.

But if the ink-well is fixedly held and the of the pen, and emergingtherefrom is tucked down between the blades of the pen. Therefore, theviolent and irregular vibration of the pen-arm does not dislodge theink-feed string F.

The porosity of the string protects the ink from undue evaporation, theink being carried principally inside the capillaries of the string tothe point of the pen.

The soft string tucked in between the blades of the pen in no wayimpedes the adjustable separation of the pen-points for the extremelyfine lines necessary for the map detail required.

In recording weather maps which have been received by feeble signals byradio from a station many thousand miles away, a weather map upon whichthe navigator of a ship is to depend for the safety of passengers, ship,and cargo, the possibility of a false break in the ink lines which buildup the weather map must be reduced to the least possible chance.

It is extremely important, therefore, that the supply of ink to the penshall be absolutely dependable, and that the ink shall be carried to theextreme point of the pen, that is, that the pen-point shall always bewet, no matter how irregular the drain of the ink through the pen-pointmay be, how long or short the contact between pen and paper, or how longthe interval therebetween.

At the same time the ink-conduit must not impede the movement of the penin any degree, i. e., the conduit must be extremely flexible.

The string, after passing through the shank of the pen, is pointeddownward between the blades of the pen, and extends slightly below thelower edge of the pen blades. The small size of the string or thread andthe space between the thread and the pen point is such that the surfacetension of the capillaries of the thread are relieved at this point, andthe capillaries bleed, with the result that the pen-point is constantlywet. v 1

Having enumerated the requirements of this important, but extremelydelicate detail of dependable -map-making by radio, 10 What]: claim, iS-

1. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a bladed pen,having a sharp nib and a hollow shank; a reservoir ofin'k stationarilymounted with respect to saidpen during the recording movement of saidpen; anda; porous thread extending directly from the ink reservoirthrough the shank ofthe pen, and down between therbladesof the pen -point and forming a continuous flexible :29 connection between the pen andtheink reservoir and to permit free movement of the pen independently ofthe reservoir. '2. In apparatus of the class described, the combinationofa bladed pen having an adustably sharp nibe and a hollow shank; areservoir ofinkstationarily mounted with respect to said penduring therecordingmovement of'saidpen; and a porous thread extending directlyfrom the ink reservoir 30 through the shankof; the pen, and down be- Itween the blades of the pen-point and form- 7 ing a continuous flexibleconnection between the pen and the ink reservoir and .to permit freemovement or the pen independently of the reservoir. 3. Inapparatus of;the class described, the combination of a blacledpen having an ad'-justably'sharp nib; a reservoir ofinksta- V tionari'ly-mounted withrespectto said-pen #0 diuringthe recording movement of said pen;

a porous thread extending directly from the ink. reservoir to andbetween the blades of the pen and'maintained in engagement with theblades by the capillary feed ofthe ink 43 through the porous thread, thelatter forming a continuous flexible connectionbetween the pen and theink reservoir to permit free independent movement of the pen; andmeansforholding the thread toprevent dis- 59 lodgment-from between thebladesof the en. p Intesti'mony whereof Ihave aifixed my signature. 1

.' ".ICHARLESFRANCIS JENKrNsQ

